Bridging the gap between useful and aesthetic maps in car navigation systems

Thanks to the development in the field of minicomputers high resolution photo realistic maps can be shown in real time on car navigation systems. These graphics are aesthetically pleasing to the viewer. However, they also have a high impact on the user's cognitive load so the effort for their usage rises.This paper describes an approach for the integration of complex maps in car navigation systems without harming its function. Referring to an empirical research, we can support the thesis that the function of a map and its aesthetic perception heavily depends on the user's situational cognitive load. This thesis is confirmed by the Cognitive load theory. In the following, we introduce a concept for the adaptation of a map's function and its design according to the changing situations in the automotive context.